Anyone familiar with the LG Chocolate range will be immediately comfortable with the Shine's control system. Again, LG provides users with a variety of options to get where you want to go. You can scroll around a spread of menu icons to select features, or alternatively set them up as a list; in either case, choosing the number on the keypad relating to the menu option number is an alternative to scrolling.

One drawback with the roller is that it can instinctively become the point at which you push up the slider into the open position. This isn't a major problem in itself, as the keys are set to lock when the phone is closed, but as it slides open you can inadvertently find yourself engaging the messaging/voicemail options or other functions.

Push up the screen by thumbing up the display, and you'll encounter another issue - fingerprints on the screen. It's called the Shine, and that's what you'll find yourself doing fairly regularly if you want to keep that mirror sparkling. It is prone to smudging.

Impressively, though, it doesn't appear to be particularly susceptible to more damaging scratching. It's a surprisingly tough cookie, and days jangling around side by side in a pocket with this reviewer's keys and coins didn't leave a mark - no scratches, nothing. Not just a pretty fascia, then.

The brushed metal casing reinforces this impression in a stylish way. The minimalist back panel resembles a rather stylish slimline digital camera. It features a 2-megapixel camera, equipped with a high quality Schneider-Kreuznach lens array, plus there's a strong photo lamp for illumination in low light conditions.

The Shine offers a quick access side key for firing up the camera and for using sideways to take pictures. LG has packed in plenty of camera functionality here. Various resolution options are available, and there are autofocus on/offand macro options, the latter extremely useful for close range shooting.

There's a timer too and up to six-pics rapid-fire multi-shot facility. There are a selection of colour effects to add to images, plus a selection of white balance settings. A digital zoom of up to 4x is available, but only on lower resolutions, not on the 2-megapixel setting.

Close up images taken in macro mode were excellent - sharp when extremely close to the subject (less than 2cm away) and with none of the distortion or bowing you'd usually get from a cameraphone lens close up. The autofocus system works well - it takes a second or two to lock on but nothing excessive.

The results from the camera endorse LG's decision to collaborate with optics specialist Schneider- Kreuznach. Although image processing plays an important factor too, pictures snapped here were excellent and detailed, with no apparent barrelling or lens distortion when blown up.

The Shine is, as you might expect, also a videocapable handset. It can record in maximum 176x144 pixels resolution, and playback video. White balance control and image filter effects are accessible here too, as well as zoom control, and the photo lamp/flash can be used when shooting.

Average quality

Quality here, though, is fairly average for a cameraphone video recorder, with a low frame record rate making moving footage playback somewhat stilted. Video clips and pictures can be sent via email as well as MMS or Bluetooth.

Another button on the side panel of the Shine gives instant access to the onboard multi-format music player (it supports MP3, AAC, AAC and AAC files). This opens up a list of the tracks you've loaded up or stored on the phone or on an optional plug in MicroSD card. You can attach the phone to a PC via a USB cable to drag and drop tracks in, as the phone can be use as a USB mass storage device.